Roy Keane has compared England midfielder Jude Bellingham to Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Bryan Robson.

The 19-year-old scored the opening goal as the Three Lions won their opening group match against Iran at the World Cup on Monday, and Keane was effusive in his praise of the Borussia Dortmund player:

“Absolutely amazing, I think he is brilliant now. Absolutely brilliant, he’s made a point there about adding more goals to his game at international level, he does score at club level. He plays with a maturity, he’s got everything you want in a midfielder in the middle of the park in terms of his physique, his maturity, his decision making, his skill. This finish here [for England’s first goal] is fantastic.”

“You remember all the brilliant England midfielders over the years people like Bryan Robson, Scholesy, Lampard and Gerrard. If you can add to that to your game, that final bit of adding goals. As I said I think he’s a brilliant player anyway.”

United are believed to be among Bellingham’s suitors ahead of a potential transfer next summer, although it isn’t thought they are the frontrunners at the moment.

Most reports suggest that Real Madrid and Liverpool are the leading contenders to snap up the teenager, while Chelsea and Manchester City are also said to be interested.

Of course, with United up for sale, it is hard to know what sort of funds manager Erik ten Hag will have at his disposal next year. It has been claimed that Dortmund could hold out for as much as €150m (£129m) for Bellingham, which would break United’s transfer record.